Mount Lorette and Beaver Mines March 8 and 9

March 8 [Day 7] (Joel Duncan, assisted by Caroline Lambert) 0800-1700. The temperature at the start of observation was -17C, rose to a high of -13C between 1300 and 1600 and was -14C at 1700. Ground winds were NE all day, light to 1000 and then 10-20 km/h for the rest of the day, while ridge winds were SW-W light to moderate to 1400 after which they were strong producing blowing snow from the west ridges. There was 1 cm of fresh snow on arrival and cloud cover was initially 100% stratus with light snow that had stopped by 0900. The rest of the morning had 60% cumulus and stratus that diminished to 20-30% to 1500 producing periods that the fresh snow made “blindingly bright”; after 1500 the cloud thickened to 80% and brought very light snow again. The west was 100% obscured all day, as was the east to 1000 after which is was an average of 50% obscured for the rest of the day. Thick cloud was also present to the south all day. Only 2 migrants were seen: a juvenile Golden Eagle that flew low to the north in front of the Fisher Range at 1137 followed by an adult using the same path at 1158. The only other birds seen at the site were 2 Common Ravens, 2 Black-capped Chickadees and 1 American Dipper.

9 hours (67.34) GOEA 2 (11) TOTAL 2 (15)

Beaver Mines [Day 11] (Peter Sherrington) 1100-1330. The temperature ranged from -13C to a high of –9C, winds were light SE and cloud cover was 100% stratus bringing light and occasionally heavy snow. Even though the ridge was occasionally visible no migrants were seen, although the Northern Saw-whet Owl was again hunting in the garden during a heavy snowfall at 1320.

2.5 hours (71.75) TOTAL 0 (126)

Steeples (Vance Mattson) No observation.

March 9 [Day 8] (Jim Davis, assisted by Rick Robb) 0740-1530. It was another cold day with an initial temperature of -26C that rose to -14C at 1300 where it remained for the rest of the observation period. Ground winds were E-ENE 15-20 km/h, becoming N after 1500, while ridge winds appeared to be light E all day. Cloud cover was 10-20% cumulus to 1100, 40% altostratus and cirrostratus to 1400 after which it was 100% broken stratus that brought snow after 1500. Both east and west ridges were mainly clear to 1300 after which they began to cloud over and all ridges were obscured by 1500. The relatively clear conditions produced the highest count of the season so far with 17 raptors migrating between 1305 and 1436, 6 of which moved on the western ridges and 11 on the Fisher Range to the east. The count was 11 Bald Eagles (8a, 2j, 1u), the season’s first Rough-legged Hawk, a dark morph, and 5 Golden Eagles (4a, 1sa). Seven of the birds moved between 1305 and 1400, and 10 between 1400 and 1436, and appeared to be running ahead of the gathering snowstorm. The only other birds seen were 1 Common Goldeneye, 4 Common Ravens and the season’s first 2 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches.

7.83 hours (75.17) BAEA 11 (15), RLHA 1 (1), GOEA 5 (16 TOTAL 17 (32)

Beaver Mines No observation. The temperature ranged from -26C to -18C, winds were light E-ESE all day and light snow fell for much of the day.

About RMERF

Since 1992, Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation (RMERF) volunteers have performed annual raptor migration counts at the same site location in the Kananaskis Country, Alberta, spring and fall; significantly providing data to the understanding of and amazement in watching Golden Eagles.